Villas-Boas has already confirmed his desire to sign the Anzhi Makachkala midfielder and the players has been in London this week to hold talks over a £30m move.

However, according to Sky sources, Chelsea are ready to hijack the deal and are also in advanced talks to sign the 25-year-old.

The Brazilian, who was also linked with Liverpool last week, appears to be keeping his options open but the Spurs boss was giving nothing away after watching his side win 5-0 away to Dinamo Tbilisi in their Europa League qualifying tie.

"We were just involved in a game so unfortunately I can't give you further information," the 35-year-old said.

"I confirmed our interest in the player. Everything is possible, but I'm not aware of the circumstances because of our involvement in the (Dinamo) game.

"I don't want it to be a distraction over what we achieved here tonight."

Meanwhile, Villas-Boas refused to discuss the future of Gareth Bale, with the Wales international apparently about to join Real Madrid in the next 24 hours.

Villas-Boas said: "On Gareth I am not able to comment on anything that has been my tone since the start of the season and I will not come out of it."

Readers' Comments

I

t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.